Christians and attitude

[TheReasoner]

Faith Guardian has a point. I was abused as a little boy, over a period of several years. (Not by family, I should add.). It took many years, but forgiveness came eventually.

As a victim of long term abuse and as a CHristian I say that it is not something I expect of any victim to manage. The hurt is extreme, and the scars are deep. But I do think that it is best for us to do so - to forgive and love even them - because it has given me a better life and because I really think this is the example Jesus set before us. To love even them.

Please understand these are not light words that have come easily.

My feelings towards pedophiles is more of a feeling of disappointed love if that makes sense. I love them as people, but I feel sadness for where they are at in their lives. Everyone has free will and chooses, but I try and remember I am not in their shoes, nor do I know how they got so screwed up.

I say this as a former Deputy Sheriff, father, and victim of sexual abuse as a little kid.

Josh

Wow...

I don't know what to say, so I'll say nothing but: May God bless and illuminate you both!

Respect!

 

[sdmsanjose]

Snow Phoenix reply
It's not the poem I find abhorrent, it's the thinking it demonstrates that I find abhorrent. The poem is quite well composed.
It's the whole concept of being 'not good enough' and 'broken'.

quote from Poem
"I'm confessing that I stumble and need CHRIST to be my guide."
"I'm professing that I'm weak and need HIS strength to carry on."


SP,
I relate to the poem as I do stumble at times and need a guide and I am weak at times and need HIS strength. If you are saying that “not good enough” is relating to being weak and stumbling at times, then I have to face the truth and say that “I am not good enough” at times. I am not sure what you mean by “not good enough”
As for “broken” for me that is when you come to the end of yourself as being able to handle all things and reach out to God.

quote from Poem
"I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess."
"My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it."
"I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow."

Snow Phoenix reply
It's the lines like this that really get my goat. Is it not a direct teaching of almost all Christian denominations that we are not worthy of God's grace? We are broken and failed creatures that need some supernatural being to come in and fix all our mistakes.


SP,
I think there are some ambiguous teachings by some Christian denominations that present the idea that we are not worthy of God’s grace. However, I am not sure I see it the way you do when you stated “…we are not worthy of God’s grace” I see it as we are not OWED His grace. His grace is a GIFT and if we EARN it then it is not a gift but God’s obligation.

If we were not worthy then why did the psalmist say?

Psalms 8
4What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

Psalms 139
14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.


I do not recall ever seeing any scriptures that says that we are not worthy to God. What I read is that we are very valuable to God even though we are not perfect and are sinners. If we were not worthy then He sure would have not allowed His son to be brutally murdered for us.

I do believe that the proud and self-righteous need to come to the realization that they are not able to do all things without God. The humbleness and brokenness seem to be a need for those prideful and self-righteous people.

Snow Phoenix reply
We are broken and failed creatures that need some supernatural being to come in and fix all our mistakes.

I do not think that we “…need some supernatural being to come and fix ALL our mistakes” I think that we can fix some of our own mistakes just not ALL. I believe in an afterlife in God and I know what I have done. If I believe in this benevolent God and a paradise that is so much better than this world, and I am honest about what I have done, then I know that I am not owed that afterlife. If you are using the word worthy to mean OWED or good enough to earn God’s forgiveness and gifts then I am not worthy. For me I am a failed creature but with God’s grace I will be able to realize my spiritual worth.


It is my opinion that you can come to the truth that we fail at times, need help, and that we have not earned or are not owed God’s gift of grace but that God knows we are valuable. So for me the “Not good enough” is true for being owed God’s grace but it is not true for your intrinsic spiritual value to God as a human being.

My understanding as stated above gives me worth as it enables me to face my truth about myself and still see how I am so valuable to God. I hope that you do not think that Christ’s teachings are to promote that you are not good enough to have spiritual value to God. Is that what you believe?

 

[sdmsanjose]

Originally Posted by Anonymous man http://www.christianforums.com/t7551054-post57311557/#post57311557
Faith Guardian has a point. I was abused as a little boy, over a period of several years. (Not by family, I should add.). It took many years, but forgiveness came eventually.

As a victim of long term abuse and as a CHristian I say that it is not something I expect of any victim to manage. The hurt is extreme, and the scars are deep. But I do think that it is best for us to do so - to forgive and love even them - because it has given me a better life and because I really think this is the example Jesus set before us. To love even them.

Please understand these are not light words that have come easily.
Originally Posted by JoshMM http://www.christianforums.com/t7551054-post57312714/#post57312714
My feelings towards pedophiles is more of a feeling of disappointed love if that makes sense. I love them as people, but I feel sadness for where they are at in their lives. Everyone has free will and chooses, but I try and remember I am not in their shoes, nor do I know how they got so screwed up.

I say this as a former Deputy Sheriff, father, and victim of sexual abuse as a little kid.

Josh

Josh
Your story is so very powerful!
To see how you have handled your extreme pain gives me encouragement and strength in the real Christian faith.
Thank you my brother!

Stan